Acts may catch on

Catch Me Out – currently being piloted by BBC1 – will transform plucky amateur entertainers into seasoned performers in just four weeks before they attempt to conquer the stage at London’s Hackney Empire

Catch Me Out – currently being piloted by BBC1 – will transform plucky amateur entertainers into seasoned performers in just four weeks before they attempt to conquer the stage at London’s iconic Hackney Empire.

Apprentices will take part alongside world-class professional acts – from dance troupes and choirs to magicians – in a bid to dupe the 1,300-strong audience, who must guess which of the acts is the amateur.

A telly insider said: “Everyone at the Beeb is really excited by this idea. It’s new and brave and gets viewers gunning for the underdog.

“Producers are hoping that the pilot goes down a storm with test audiences so they can roll out a whole series.”

The BBC has launched a number of alternative shows in recent years but none have been hits. Maybe this will be just the series to finally catch the public’s imagination.